--- title: "Mike Hanks | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Mike Hanks West Virginia Magistrate Court, Nicholas County · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Magistrate Court, Nicholas County - State: West Virginia - Role: Magistrate - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The elected Magistrate Court Judge for Division 3 in Nicholas County, West Virginia, serving from 2024 to 2028, based in Summersville - Deputy Sheriff with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department (2003–2011), serving as a uniformed and undercover officer, including work on a regional drug and violent crimes task force. - His role as Magistrate Judge involves presiding over criminal and civil matters within his district, ensuring due process, and upholding local justice standards ### Education ### Additional information - Safety Supervisor at Alpha Natural Resources (2011–present), conducting inspections, safety training, and regulatory compliance work. - Assistant Fire Chief with Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department (1995–present). - handling cases under the Magistrate Court system. - The position is nonpartisan. - Listed as an elected official in the West Virginia Secretary of State’s database. - He graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy and holds a Criminal Justice/Police Science degree from Marshall University. - His office is located at 511 Church Street, Summersville, WV 26651, and can be reached at 304‐872‐7850. - Those prior-career/education claims were not directly corroborated. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### camera and audio equipment Scope: statewide West Virginia Trial Court Rule 8 makes courtroom camera and audio equipment subject to the presiding circuit judge's or magistrate's permission. Evidence excerpt: Cameras and audio equipment may be permitted in and around the courtrooms at the discretion of each presiding circuit judge or magistrate. [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ### advance media request timing Scope: statewide West Virginia Trial Court Rule 8 directs the presiding officer to decide requests for camera or audio coverage made at least one day before the proceeding, and lack of advance approval may preclude use. Evidence excerpt: Requests made by a party or any other person at least one day in advance of the proceedings. [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/nicholas_county) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/nicholas_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/nicholas_county) - [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents) - [West Virginia Judiciary Nicholas County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/nicholas_county) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Hanks) - [www.linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hanks-65155a71) - [www.courtswv.gov](https://www.courtswv.gov/node/32727) - [apps.sos.wv.gov](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/Officials/Home/Details/b0d1d4e1-9bfe-4f46-83d8-9b0983152468) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas", "name": "Mike Hanks | KnowJudges", "description": "Mike Hanks, West Virginia Magistrate Court, Nicholas County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas#judge", "name": "Mike Hanks", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas", "jobTitle": "Magistrate", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "West Virginia Magistrate Court, Nicholas County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/nicholas_county" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "West Virginia", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/west-virginia" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mike Hanks", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-hanks-wv-magistrate-nicholas" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfc4ba5831cb3f30a5d65ca) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents). Collected 2026-07-27.